Isabela placed under state of calamity due to Ulysses

The province of Isabela was placed under a state of calamity on Friday due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, Governor Rodito Albano said.

“Nakapagdeklara na kami ng state of calamity kaninang umaga,” Albano said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Albano said the flood in most of the towns in the province reached the roofs of houses resulting in the isolation of many barangays.

“‘Yong 10 towns ng first district, flooded talaga sila. Sa Ilagan, out of 91 barangays, mga kalahati ay flooded. ‘Yong buong Sto. Tomas, flooded ‘yon,” he said.

Albano also said residents were unprepared for the scale of massive flooding that overwhelmed their communities.

“Ang malungkot dito ay hindi gaanong handang-handa na alam namin na magkakaroon ng ganito (na labis na pagbaha) dahil noong gabi ay nag-inspeksyon kami pero hindi namin akalain na ganitong kalaking daloy ng tubig ang bumaba sa Cagayan River,” he said.

Albano said even evacuation centers were affected by the flood.

The declaration of a state of calamity will allow the provincial government to tap into its calamity funds to assist affected residents. — DVM, GMA News